Hermes-mobile app shares reliable information to seasonal migrant workers

The Hermes project has started! The project has a very important goal: to develop a mobile app, which shares reliable information about Finnish work life to seasonal workers. Seasonal workers work often on a temporary basis in Finland. However, some live permanently in the country.

The co-ordinator of the project, Henri von Adlerkrone tells that: ”The goal is that as many seasonal workers as possible in the forestry and agricultural sectors download the app to their mobile phone. Ideally, they download it already before arriving in Finland. Many seasonal workers have received wrong information about wages and the availability of work before they arrive in the country.”

The Hermes-app is free of charge for its users. It is aimed at seasonal workers with ”non-Finnish” backgrounds. The app functions in five languages: Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Ukrainian and English.

– The app is also beneficial for employers in the forestry and agricultural sectors. It is important that the same reliable information about rights and duties is available to employers too, says von Adlerkrone.

The aforementioned working-life sectors have experienced problems as regards seasonal workers’ wages and other working conditions, including accomodation –despite employers’ strong dependency on seasonal workers.

The pilot phase of the project (2022) focuses on sectors based in rural areas, such as berry and animal farms, forestry and horticulture. The plan is that in the coming years the project will include more job sectors.

The Hermes project has been funded by the WORK2030-programme. The Industrial Union (Teollisuusliitto) administers the project. The partners of the project include employers’ organisations (Federation of Agricultural Employers MTA, Yksityismetsätalouden työnantajat ry [represents private secor empoylers in forestry], Metsähallitus [a state-owned enterprise that produces environmental services for a diverse customer base] and the Migration Insitute of Finland.